Health Plan of San Joaquin | Focus Your Health | Fall 2019

Fall 2019 Flu season is coming It’s best to get your flu shot early We are at last getting a break from all of that sum- mer heat. That can only mean one thing: It’s almost flu season. Flu can be harm- ful for kids and households. Between 6,000 and 26,000 children younger than 5 are sent to the hospital each year because of the flu. The flu shot is safe and helps protect kids and adults from flu. Even healthy kids and adults can get really sick from the flu. They can then spread it to family and friends. Signs of flu are: ● ● Fever or feeling feverish/chills ● ● Cough ● ● Sore throat ● ● Runny or stuffy nose Focus Your Health ● ● Muscle or body aches ● ● Headache ● ● Feeling tired ● ● Puking and diarrhea (more common in children than adults) A flu shot is important for people of all ages. It is vital for kids 6 months and older, preg- nant women, and all people with lifelong health conditions like asthma or high blood sugar. They have a higher chance of getting bad problems from flu, like pneumonia, which can lead to hospital stays. You need a flu shot It’s best to get your flu shot by the end of October each year to be ready for flu season. During the 2017–2018 season, flu shots prevented: ● ● 7 million flu cases ● ● 109,000 flu health care visits ● ● 8,000 deaths Surviving flu season ● ● Try to stay clear of being in the same area with sick people. ● ● If you are sick, try to stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. ● ● Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze. ● ● Wash your hands often. ● ● Call your doctor’s office to set up a visit to get your flu shot today. Source: cdc.gov/flu Standard U.S. Postage PAID Merced, CA Permit No. 1186 F O R M O R E Not sure who your doctor is? Call HPSJ at 888.936.7526 (PLAN); TTY/TDD 711 . Visit HPSJ .com for more facts on flu resources and HPSJ’s HealthReach Advice Nurse Line.